Growing Tillandsia Outside

[aliceinwl]

I’ve accumulated an eclectic collection of Tillandsia that I’ve hung from my fence with the orchids. All are doing well so far but I’m wondering about winter. From what I’ve read most are hardy down to at least 40 degrees Fahrenheit if dry. We do get the occasional frost and winter lows in the mid to upper 30 degrees Fahrenheit. I’m wondering if I need to bring them in or just make sure they’re dry. I’ve probably got 100+ species at this point all are well acclimated (bought this spring/summer).

I attached a photo of a small section of the fence (I can’t figure out how to improve resolution), but it gives an idea of the scope of the “problem”.

[wisdomseeker]

How long have you been growing them outdoors?

I have a collection that is grown indoors, and no longer grow them outdoors. Tillandsia are pretty tough plants when it comes to temperature swings, especially when they are already 'hardened' to outside growing conditions.

When I did grow these outside, I moved them indoors (and/or into the greenhouse with the heater engergized) when temps. started getting into the mid-upper 40F range. Some species can handle near freezing temps. for short durations (from what I have been told from some professional growers - a couple of those being located in northern & central Cali, along with some of the cultural information I have read in the past about natural habitat growth).

I've (*almost*) always played it safe and never experimented with Tillies in temps. lower than the upper 40's before bringing them in for 'shelter'. The *almost*... have forgotten a few when it got down into the 30's a few nights, and the results were not good.


A lot of Tillandsia go into flower mode during the months of late fall/winter/early spring when temperatures drop at night. I don't know how much of a drop (and duration) it takes for them to flower. If it were me, and you wanted to keep your Tillies outdoors during the winter months, I would at the very least try to somehow cover your plants during any frosts or near freezes... might offer some protection against freezing, and/or long term damage to the plants.

[aliceinwl]

Mine have been outside for months. Night time lows have been dipping into the low 40s regularly but highs are in the 70s. A lot of them seem to be putting on a growth spurt and a few are flowering.

I have them all individually suspended so right now I’m kind of thinking about looking for some kind of trellis I can put them all on and move them to a sheltered location when rain is in the forecast or into the garage if its supposed to get below freezing.

Were your plants that suffered damage acclimated? Did any species /varieties seem particularly sensitive? I have one T. xerographica and I read that it doesn’t like to get below 60, but it’s been getting at least low 50s at night since I bought it and is also putting on a growth spurt now. I’m considering bringing it inside at some point if it is really cold sensitive.

[wisdomseeker]

The 'one-for-all' trellis, and sheltered location idea, sounds like a good one.

The ones forgotten outside during cold temps. (that I remember vividly), were strictly grown outdoors. Fully acclimated to outdoor conditions with some direct sunlight during the day. Temperature & humidity swings are all over the map in my neck of the woods.

Those forgotten plants were exposed to freezing temperatures for a couple of nights (not just a few hours, or just a light frost). I reside on the right coast where we experience freezing nights for a couple of months, and a lot of those cold snaps come quickly & unexpectedly, not to mention the freezing rain.

Degree of damage was heavy/moderate for T. usneoides. Two that eventually bounced back (never to the quality they once were), but eventually succumbed: T. magnusiana (which surprised me because of its thin leaves), and T. paleacea. I lost (and it hurt because these were very-very nice specimen plants) a T. karwinskyana, T. flexuosa, T. caput-medusa, and several T. ionantha.

One key word you mentioned is: keeping them "dry" in cold temperatures. Wet and cold - not good for Tillies by any means - a quick route to disaster.

[aliceinwl]

Thanks for the info! It sounds like your weather is a bit more extreme than mine, but I have some plants I’d hate to lose. I have a T. recurvata that I was gifted over 6 years ago that I’ve grown outside, unprotected since I got it. I’m thinking my T. usneoides will be okay but I may separate out and protect a few strands just in case.

[DirtyCoconuts]

There’s a tree in my yard that has 100s of Tilley varieties on it. Well hundred of examples of several varieties. I have no idea what any of them are but it’s a regular occurrence to find several airplants in any live oak around here (Miami and ft lauderdale)

That said, when we have cold snaps(rarely, like every couple years) there is no discernible die off of the tillys. They might stunt a bit but they all bounce back. Granted these are outdoor raised and acclimatized but they are NOT used to cold and they handle it well

[DirtyCoconuts]

Here are a few shots of some wild tills

[wisdomseeker]

Florida is lucky to still have several species of Tillandsia growing wild within the state (nice photos by the way). Three species that I have always had a true fondness for: T. flexuosa, T. paucifolia, and T. pruinosa can still be found growing wild within the state. The climate surely agrees with them (not so much though with the Mexican bromeliad weevil).